ABC hosted a golf tournament May 6 to benefit Folds of Honor, a charitable organization that Major Dan Rooney established 12 years ago to provide educational scholarships to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members. Since 2017, ABC’s tournament has raised $375,000 for Folds of Honor.

Twelve foursomes comprised of members of the military, construction industry, media and Capitol Hill joined PGA professionals at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland, following a reception May 5 featuring incredible stories from Ginger Gilbert Ravella, a widow and scholarship recipient, and Rodney “Rocky” Sickmann, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Sickmann shared his account as one of 65 hostages at the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran, in 1979. He was just 22 years old, and remained a hostage for 444 days before being released on Jan. 20, 1981. During one rescue attempt in 1980, eight service members lost their lives.

“Every day since I came home, I’ve never forgotten those eight individuals and what they did,” Sickmann said. 

Gilbert Ravella’s husband Troy died on a combat mission in Iraq in 2006, leaving behind five children under the age of 8. “You’re not going to get to meet all the families that ABC is helping, but I hope that you remember me when you’re giving to Folds of Honor and loving these families. They need to know they’re not alone,” she said. “Thank you again from the one and a half million dependents just from Iraq and Afghanistan whose lives are changing every single day.”

Partners supporting the tournament include Big D Metalworks, FlorWright, Forbes Tate Partners, Gaylor Electric, hth companies, inc., KBE Building Corp., Marriott and Residence Inn, Miller & Long Concrete Construction, Prospect Waterproofing Co., Reliable Contracting Co. Inc., Tradesmen International, and Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America.

“I didn’t serve, so this is how I’m serving,” said FlorWright President Andy Wright, whose parents lived next door to Major Rooney when he was in the Air National Guard in Oklahoma. “I’ve been lucky and successful enough that I can afford to support several scholarships a year. Everyone playing golf in this tournament is providing four scholarships from each team; it’s just awesome.”